Bat-forming machine



June 22 .1926.

M. J. STACK BAT FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 |Nv ENToR fa urzce JSzac/l.

ATTORNEY so NN 1 l l 1 l ...l Irrl I I I l..

June 22 1926.

M. J. STACK BAT FORMING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, E26 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 -HUGE June 22 1926.

M. J. STACK BATv FORMING MACHINE 3 SheetS-Sheet' 5 Filed Feb. 25, 1926 INVENTOR Ma unice J Siae/5 ATTORNEY Patented Jvune- 22, 1926. i

UNITED STATES MAURICE JOSEPH STCK, OF WATERFORD, NEW YORK.

BAT-FORMING- MACHINE.

vApplication fil-er1 February 23, 1926. Serial No. 0,221.

The invention generally relates to the art of forming continuous length cotton batting for use in upholstering automobiles and thelike, and has for its object to provide an aut-omatic machine efficiently operable in forming the various typesyof cotton b atting now commonly used. .Y

In the formation ofbattingwused as related, it is common to equip the same with a continuous length of some tensile-strengthproviding material such as soft rolled cotton rope-like in nature, fabric,` glazed wadding, or gummed paper. In the use of suchv materials the continuous length thereof is laidinto the folds of the batting or upon the same and'secured to the cotton by adhesion, as where gummed paper is used, or by interlocking of the bres of the insert with those of the batting whe-re fibrous inserts are used.

In its more detailed nature, the invention seeks to provide a single automatic machine capable of forming` the several types of batting now commonly used.

l'Vith the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter be described, the invention further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully 'riesci-ibed, then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Figure 2. is a side elevation of the invention, a roll Winder being also shown.

Figure 3 is an end View of a folder and its adjustable mounting. y

Figure 4 is a sectional perspective View of a twist-folded bat formed with a soft rope COlG.

"5 Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 illustrating a double edge folded bat with an inlaid tensile-strength-providing and sealing strip.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating an outside tensile-strength-providing and sealing strip.

Figures 7 and 8 are Views similar to Figure l illustrating single edge fold inside strip sealed andoutside strip sealed bats respectively. i

Figures.v 9 to'12 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner of folding the bats illustrated in Figures 5 8 respectively..

In the practical development of theinvention I provide a machine framing 1 adapted I to support the various mechanisms of my machine and to one side of the upper front end of which is secured a small. frame or bracket 2' which serves as a supporting medium for the standard3 which in turn forms a sup-port for the roll 4 of gummed paper or other tensile-strength-providing material, such as a continuous strip of fabric or of a rope-like material formedof loosely twisted cotton batting, the use of which will be again referred to.

When gummed paper is used as the tensile-strength-providing medium a mois-- t'ening box 5 is provided and suitably supported as at 6 on the standard 3 and which is equipped with suitable moistening and tension rolls for applying the desired tension to the strip and for moistening the gummed surface or surfaces thereof to cause the strip to adhere to the cotton batting.

y A front slatted conveyor apron 7 -is provided and is driven through the medium of the pulleys 8 mounted on the front and rear apron shafts 9 and 1() in a manner later to be described. The front apron shaft 9 has suitable end bearing in bearings 11 mounted upon the top of the framing 1 and the rear apron shaft 1() has suitable end bearing in the bearings 12 mounted upon the machine framing.

When the machine is to be utilized to form a continuous length of batting such as is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, i. e.,

a twist folded bat having either a soft rope core or a paper strip core, a folder 13 is provided and cooperates with the front apron 7 and is provided with a pair of laterally projected carrier arms 14. rl`he arms 14 are laterally slidable through the hubs of the supporting bearings l5 and each of the hubs of these bearings is provided with va suitable set screw 16 to securely hol-d the carrier arms at their laterally adjusted positions. By this I means the folder 13 is supported in cooperative relation with the conveying apron 7 and is adjustable laterally across the conveying surface of that apron for a purpose later to be described. The folder is also provided with a folding horn 17 which is secured to the folder 13 in an adjustable manner through the medium of the slot and wing nut adjustment 18, see Figure 3. From the foregoing, it will be readil apparent that the folder 13 is laterally adjustable with respect to the conveying surface of the apron 7 and the folding horn 17 is longitudinally cooperative with said folder.

A pair of presser rolls 19 are positioned just beyond the delivery end 'of the apron 7 in a manner whereby their batting engaging portions are approximately on a hori- Zontal plane with the conveying surface-s of the apron. These rolls are provided with upper and lower driving shafts 20421 respectively which have suitable end bearing in the bracket 22 with which the bracket 12 is formed as an integral part.

An intermediate slatted apron 23 is also provided and is adapted to be operated to convey the bat rearwardly through the medium of the pulleys 24 driven by the front and rear cross shafts 25 and 26, respectively, the former having suitable end bearing in the bearings 27 secured upon the machine frame and the latter being similarly mounted in the end bearings 28.

A second or intermediate folder 29 is also provided and this folder is likewise laterally adjustably mounted through the medium of the lateral arms 30, supporting brackets 31, and set screws 32. A folding horn 33 is also cooperative with this folder 29 and is adjustably secured thereto-as at 34.

A second set of presser rolls 35 is located just beyond the delivery end of the intermediate apron 23 and in position for cooperating with the conveying surfaces thereof, these rolls being mounted upon the upper and lower 'driving shafts 36 and 37, respectively, which have suitable end bearing in the brackets 38 of which the bracket 28 forms an integral part.

A third or rear apron 39 is provided and vadapted to be driven by the pulleys 40 over which it takes and which are driven by the front and rear cross shafts 41 and 42` respectively, in a manner later to be described, and which shafts have suitable end bearing in the front and rear bearings 43 and 44, respectively.

A third folder 45 cooperates with the apron 39 and, like the aprons 29 and 13, is laterally adjustably supported as at 46, 47 and 48, and cooperative with the folder 45 is the usual folding horn 49 which is adjustably secured thereto, as at 50.

A fourth or final folder 51 is provided to cooperate with the rear apron 39, and, as is clearly illustrated, is positioned just opposite the folder 45 and like the rest of the folders is laterally adjustably supported above the framing 1 and in cooperation with the said apron as at 52, 53 and 54, and the usual folder horn 55 is adjustably secured thereto, as in the case ofy all of the remainder of the adjustable horns. It will be observed that the folder horns 49 and 55 which c0- operate with the folders 45 and 51 above the rear apron 39 are positioned in a manner whereby they will not interfere with each other or either thereof with the folding action of the opposite folder, as is clearly indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

1t will be observed by reference to Figures l and 4 of the drawings, assumingthat a bat of the type illustra-ted in the said Figure 4 is being formed, that as the cot-ton'batting is conveyed across the machine bed by the aprons, the folder 13 effects the first operation thereupon, that is,-starts the twist fold which is completed by the horn 17 in the manner illustrated at the left of Figure 1, the position of the roll 4 of soft rope or gummed paper, whichever one thereof is being used at the time, being adjusted se that the core will be laid centrally in the fold thus being formed, as is clearly illustrated in the said Figure 1 of the drawing. For this purpose it is to be understood that the mounting for the roll and box 4 and 5 is laterallyI adjustable.

As the batting leaves the conveyor apron 7 it passes between the presser rolls 19 where the fold and batting is compressed to a certain degree and which, of course, effects a tight adherence of the gummed paper strip to that portion of the fold which opposes its gummed surface or surfaces or, where a soft rope core is being used, the fibres thereof will be caused to intermingle and interlock with those of the cotton batting. The batting then passes on to the conveyor apron 23 and over the folder 29 where the second fold, or, rather, a twist is started by the folder 29 and completed by the horn 33, as is clearly indicated at the central portion of Figure 1.

After the second twist fold is completed the batting then passes through the presser rolls 35 where the same and folds are again compressed and passed onto the third apron 39 where the third twist fold is started by the folder 45 and colnpleted by the horn 49, during the completion of which the fourth folder 51 comes into play and starts the final fold which is completed by the horn 55, completing the bat which then passes between the opposed guide heads 56 laterally adjustable upon and rotatable with the cross shaft shaft 57 mounted in suitable bearings 58 secured upon the base framing 1 in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. After passing between the heads 56 the finished batting passes through the funnel or guide eye 59 mounted at 60 upon the cross beam 61 supported by the framing l, after which, the batting passes through the final presser rolls 62, mounted just beyond the funnel on upper and lower shafts 63 and 64 mounted in the brackets 65, to be compressedy thereby.

After the batting leaves the final presser rolls 62 it is looped over a pair of supporting rolls 66 mounted as at 67 upon the end The conveying surface of the aprons 7, 23v

and 39 are all on the same horizontal plane, which horizontal plane passes'through or approximately through the point at which all of the presser rolls contact with the batting being conveyed therethrough.

In practice, I find that perfect functioning of a machine of this type depends largely upon the grade of material being used upon the machine, some of such material having greater tensile strength and elasticity than others naturally eecting the speed at which the various aprons and rolls must` be operated to obtain the most perfect results. l also find that it is impracticable to operate all of the aprons and rolls at the same speed because to do so would cause a pulling of the stock at some points and a tendency to tear the stock at others. fn the development of a practical machine, such' as is illustrated in the drawings, consideration must be given to the retarding action of the folding or twisting mechanisms and the natural quality of the fabricated cotton itself. By experience l find that perfect results may be obtained by driving the front conveyor 7 slightly faster than the first set of rolls 19; the second set of rolls a little faster than the first set and the third set of rolls a little faster than the second set, with the speed of the aprons 23 and 29 increasing in succession and proportionately decreasing over that of the aprons 7 The most satisfactory drive of the various mechanisms is effected as follows :-70 designates the master power transmission ulley mounted upon the main power shaft 71 upon which is also mounted a large diameter gear 72 which is adapted to mesh with a larger diameter gear 73 mounted upon the countershaft 74. The countershaft 74 also. has mounted thereupon a drive sprocket 75 and a large diameter sprocket 76. The s rocket 75 drives the like sized sprocket 77 sleeve-mounted to be rotated upon the stud shaft 78, through a chain transmission 79, while the sprocket y7 6 drives the slightly larger sprocket 80, sleevemounted to be rotatable upon the shaft 81, through a chain transmission 82, the purpose for which will later appear.

A small diameter gear 83 is sleeve-connected withLthe sprocket 77 to be rotatable therewith 'and upon the shaft 78, and is f adapted to mesh with the large diameter gear 84 mounted upon the lower presser roll l `shaft 21, upon the other end of which is secured a gear 85 which meshes with the like sized gear 86 on the upper presser roll shaft and with an idler gear 87 rotatable upon the stud shaft 88 and which is adapted to impart 'rotary motion to the apron 7 through the medium of the gear connection 89.

A suitable pinion gear 90 is sleeve-connected with the sprocket 80 to be rotatable therewith and upon the stud shaft 81 and serves to impart rotation to the large diameter gear 91 mounted upon the lower` presser roll shaft 37, upon the other end of .which is mounted a gear 92 adapted to mesh with the like diameter ear' 93 mounted upon the upper presser roll s aft 36 to impart rotation thereto. thereupon a large sprocket 94 adapted to impart rotary motion to the apron shaft 4l The shaft also has mounted through the medium of the chain transmis- Y ysion -95 which takes thereover and over the small sprocket 96 mounted upon said apron shaft.

The lower presser roll shaft 37 also has a sprocket 97 mounted thereupon and over which takes a transmission chain 98 which also takes over the slightly smaller sprocket 99 mounted upon the lower presser roll shaft 64 to impart rotary motion thereto, which said rotary motion is also imparted to the upper presser roll shaft 63 by the usual like sized gear transmission means 100.

The apron shaft 41 also has mounted thereupon a sprocket 101 over which, and over the slightly larger sprocket 102, mounted upon the apron shaft 26 of the apron 23, takes the transmission chain 103 to impart motion to the said apron 23, while another sprocket 104 is mounted upon the said apronshaft 41, over which, and over the like sized sprocket 105 mounted upon the other shaft 42 of the apron 39, takes the transmission chain 106 for effecting proper drive of the said apron 39.

The guide heads shaft 57 has mounted .thereupon a sprocket 107 over which and over similar sprocket 108 mounted on the apron shaft 42 takes the transmission chain 109 to effect the proper driving of the shaft 57 and the guide heads 56 to cause them to lirnovel at a speed as fast or faster than the apron 39.

If desired the shaft 64 may be extended and provided with a pulley to facilitate driving of the roll Winder from this source as indicated.

A While it is more practical, and therefore more desirous, that the folded bat be run to as great a length as ispossible considerig the possibilities of the machine and the stock and the practicability of handling, it

may be desired to cut the bat into desired lengths as it is being folded. For this purpose I provide a severing mechanism which I preferably locate at a point just beyond the second set of presser rolls 35. This means includes the knife 110 which is operated through the medium of operating rods 111 guided in the brackets 112 supported upon the brackets which provide the bearings 28, 38 and 43. This mechanism is properly operated by suitable driving and timing mechanism which is similar to that disclosed in my Patent #1,196,993 and therefore a detailed disclosure here is thought to be unnecessary and the said mechanism will be but generally pointed out by the numeral 113. Power is transmitted to this mechanism from the main power shaft 71 through the medium of the pulley 114, belt 115 and pulley 116, the latter forming a part of the mechanism and` illustrated in the patent referred to. A loose pulley 117 may also be provided so that the belt- 115 may be shifted thereonto so that the knife operating mechanism will not operate.

It should be understood that the gears 35--86, 92--93, 100-100, are long toothed gears such as will permit movement away from each other, as may be effected by variance in thickness of the stock passing through the rolls for effecting power transmission by these gears.

By reason of providing the twisting folders 13, 29, 25 and 51 with laterally adjustable mountings and by also providing a similar laterally adjustable mounting for the paper roll 4, it will be readily apparent that the lmachine maybe adjusted to make various sizes of folds and, of course, various sizes of batting, as the trade may require, the adjustment being very simple and effective so that-.quick change of the machine may be readily effected with prac-` tically no waste of time. For this purpose it will be observed that the apron 7 is made much wider than the other aprons.

By reason of positioning the folding mechanisms as they are indicated in Fig. ure 1, it will be observed that all of the twist-folds with the exception of the final fold are in the same direction. By folding all in one direction and particularly by the utilization of the twist accomplished by 29-33 and 45-49 the fibres of the fabricated cotton are compacted in the direction of the twist only in a manner whereby the I tensile strength of the said cotton will be increased and not fieXed back and forth in a manner which would tend to weaken the same.

` In the foregoing description I have described the machine as adapted for use in forming batting of the type illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. It will be observed that the folders 13-17, 29-33, 45-49 and 51-55 alone were necessary in forming the bat illustrated in Figure 4. For forming the bats illustrated in Figures 5-8 the folder and horn 118-119, mounted opposite those 29-33 in the same manner in which all of the folders and horns are mounted, are brought into use by merely adjusting them to position for suitably engaging the batting.

When the bats illustrated in Figures 5-9 are being made the first folder and horn 13-17 are not used and are moved aside out of the way of the travelling batting.

When making the bats of Figures 5 and 6 all of the folder and horn sets are used except that just above referred to, see Figures 9 and 10.

When making the bats of Figures 7 and 8 the second opposed folder and horn sets alone are needed and all others are moved out of the way. See Figures 11 and 12.

A series of guide rollers 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 and 125 are employed to facilitate laying of the tensile-strength-providing strip into the folds of or upon the bats.

The first one 120, which is freely rotatable between spaced collars upon the cross shaft 126 bearing in the brackets 127 mounted upon the framing 1 just beyond the box 5, serves to lay 'the strip into the first twistfold of the bat illustrated in Figure 4 in the manner shown in Figure 1. In this case the strip, after leaving the box 5, passes under the roller 120 to be properly guided and positioned thereby.

When the bats of Figures 5-8 are being formed the roll 4 is moved over to a position centrally of the aprons, asindicated in Figures 9-12. When making these bats the strip is passed over guide rollers 121 and 122 each mounted between spaced collars on a cross shaft 128 mounted in brackets 129secured upon the bearing brackets for each of the first and second sets of presser rolls. When making the bats of Figures 5 and 7 the strip, after passing over the guide roller 122 passes down and under a guide and positioning roller 123 mounted between spaced collars on the cross shaft 130 secured by the brackets 131 upony the framing just beyond the second set ofv presser rolls. This roller is so position that it lays the strip onto the single thickness of batting.

When making the bats ofFigures 6 and 8 it is necessary to lay the strip on either two or three thicknesses of batting. In this case I provide a guide roller 124 and a guide and positioning roller 125 each mounted between spaced collars on a cross shaft 132 and 133, respectively. The shafts 132 and 133 are mounted in brackets' 134 which are secured on the framing and made in two parts to be pivotally adjustable as at 135 so that the relation of the roller 124 with the roller 125 may be varied to vary the tensioning of ica positioned by the latter.

It is to be understood that when the first folder or the first three folders are not in actual` use they are 'moved asi-de on their adjust-able mountings.

By passing the batting from the last folders set through the rotating guide heads 56 and funnel 59 before reaching the final presser rolls, the same worked and the fibres thereof caused to more perfectly in` terlock thanis possible by use of common equipment.

tFrom the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought the construction, operations and ladvantages of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

What I claim is: f

l. \In"a bat folding machine, a plurality of successive folding sections, compressing rolls beyond each section, a series of core vstrip guide rollers associated with said sections, whereby. the core strip may be fed t'o the bat at any of the sections as desired, rotatable guide heads beyond the last section, a funnel beyond the guide heads, and final compressing rolls to which the bat is directed by the funnel.

2. In a bat folding machine, a plurality of successive folding sections, compressing rolls beyond each section, a series of core stripv guide rollers associated with said sec tions, whereby the corestrip may be fed to the bat at any of the sections as desired, opposed laterally adjustable guide heads beyond the last section, a restricted throatl equipped funnel lbeyond the guide heads, and final compressing rolls to which the bat is directed by the funnel.

3. In a bat folding machine, a plurality of successive folding sections and means for mounting the sections laterally-adjustably with relation to the travelling batting, la core strip roll, means for laterally-adjustably mounting the roll above the travelling batting, and a series of core strip guide rollers associated with said sections, whereby the core strip may be fed to the bat at any of the sections desired.

4. In a bat folding machine, a plurality of successive folding sections and means for mounting theY sections laterally-adjustably with relation to the travelling batting, a core strip roll, means for laterally-'adjust-- ably mounting the roll above ther travelling batting, a series of core strip guide rollers associated with said sections, whereby the core strip may be fed to the bat at any of the sections desired, and means for mounting at least two of the uide rollers in adjustable corelative position whereby tensioning of the strip may be effected.

5. In a bat folding machine, a plurality of successive folding sections and lmeans formounting the sections laterally-adjustably with relation to the travelling batting, a core strip roll, means for laterally-adjustably mounting the roll above the travelling batting, a series of core strip guide rollers vassociated with said sections, whereby the core strip may be fed to the bat at any of the sections desired, means for mounting atleast two of the guide rollers in adjustable corelative position whereby tensioning of the strip may be effected, opposed laterally adjustable section, a restricted throat equipped funnel beyond the guide heads, and final compressing rolls to which the bat is directed by the funnel.

' ,MAURICE JOSEPH STACK.

ide heads'beyond the last I 

